Electric switch.



F. BARR.

-- ELECTRIC SWITCH;

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16,1O13.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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I/ P W 14 1o r r W 18 WITNESSES MENTOR 1 14 Henfi rfdBarr,

Patented May 19, 1914.

F. BARR.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN,16.1913.

1 Patented May 19, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig 7 Fig. 9

Fig- 8- WITNESSES IIWENTOR Bee/er)? Barr,

6''; taken partly on the central plane.

FREDERIC BARR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914 Application filed January 16, 1913. Serial no. 742334.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F REDERIC BARR, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at New York, in--tlie county of Kings and State of- New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly towhat are commonly termed pull switches and especially to a switch having a plurality of contacts.

The main object is to provide a construction of the above character two of which are adapted to be used in a lighting system so that one or more lights may be controlled from either of the two switches. Switches for this purpose are sometimes called 3-way. I have shown the invention particularly as adapted to a wall bo'x switch. It will be seen hereinafter that certain features of construction are applicable to a reversing switch.

In the preferred form as illustrated, the invention contemplates two insulating members for housing the switch parts and carrying the circuit terminals. One of these members constitutes a housing for the other member which carries the switch contacts and circuit terminals. In the 3-way type of switch there are four stationary contacts arranged around the central spindle and three circuit terminals connected to three of these contacts. The fourth contact is connected to one of the first three. A rotating switch member is adapted to bridge opposite contacts and an oscillating chain operated member is adapted to rotate the switch member step by step. In the reversing type of switch the fourth contact is connected to a fourth circuit terminal. In both constructions the twoinsulating members,

the switch contacts, the circuit terminals and the operating mechanism are so constructed that there is no possibility of accidentally short circuiting. The parts are nevertheless simple, readily constructed and assembled:

Figure 1, is a front view of a switch embodying my invention in the wall box type, the wall box however, being omitted. Fig. 2, is a vertical cross sectional view of the same on the plane of the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a horizontal sectional view Fig. 4, is a perspective view showing the parts of the switch separate. Fig. 5, is a view of the Fig. 6, is a diagrammatic sible for wiring. f

rear'side of the switch carryingjmember.

circuitconnections for two switches. Fig. 7,, 1s a front view of a reversing type of switch having four terminals. Fig. 8, is a view of the front side of the switch carrying member of Fig. 7. Fig. 9, is a view of the rear side of the switch carrying member of Fig's. 7 and 8.

The insulating member 1 may be termed the outer member or housing as it is constructed to receive and support all the other parts. The insulating member 2 may be termed the inner or carrying member as it supports directly all the switch contacts and circuit terminals. The carrying member and attached parts are adapted to readily fit into the housing and be held in proper place therein by the relative shape of the parts. A bridge piece or plate 3 extends across the face of the two members when assembled and is adapted to be held in place by one or more screws such as 4: so as to prevent relative movement of the inner and outer members.

The switch contacts 5, 6, 7 and 8 are preferably in the form of resilient annular segments with feet fitting in recesses in the carrying member 2 at four points equally spaced around the central spindle 9. The circuit terminal 10 lies over the foot of the contact 5 and the two are secured to the carrying member by a screw 11-. The outer end of the terminal 10 is bent over at right angles soas to brin it into position acceshe circuit terminal 12 has a base which lies against the foot of the contact 6 and the two are secured to the carrying member 2 by a screw 13. The outer end of this circuit terminal 12 is extended laterally and outwardly so as to bringit out at the corner opposite the circuit terminal 10 (see Fig. 1.). The circuit terminal 14 has abase which lies over the foot of the switch contact 7 and the two are view showing the 17 and 15 pass through opposite ends of this link 18 for the purpose of mechanically contacts so that the switch member may be rotated in one direction but not in the reverse direction. The switch member 20 is carried by an insulating disk 21 which is adapted to rotate on the spindle 9. The ratchet lever 22 on the spindle 9 is adapted to engage the outer face of thecarrying member 21 to rotate it step by step as the lever 22 is oscillated. A notched nut 23 is screwed on to the outer end of the spindle 9 and the sprin 24 interposed between the nut and the lever 22 presses the lever, disk and switch member toward the carrying member 2 and also tends to keep the lever 22 yieldingly in the position shown in Fig.

, 2. This lever 22 is adapted to be operated by a pull cord or chain 25 which passes out through the face of the plate 3. The carrying member 2 is provided with an integral flange 26 to serve as a guard for the switch contacts.

If used, for instance, in a lighting system, two switches would be connected as shown in Fig. 6, here the contacts 5, 5 and circuit terminals 10, 10 are connected by a conductor 30. The contacts 6, 6 and circuit terminals 12, 12 are connected by a conductor 31. The contacts 7, 7 and circuit terminals 14, Marc connected by conductors 32 and 33 with the source of current and the translating devices such as lamps 34. The contacts 8, 8 are connected to the terminals 14, 14 by the links 18, 18.. When the two bridging switch members respectively connect the contacts 6 and 8, the circuit is continuous through the switches, similarly the circuit is continuous through the switches with both bridging members connecting the contacts 5 and 7. The circuit is open however if one switch has'its bridging member connect ng contacts 5 and 7 and the other switch has itsibri'dging member connecting the contacts (Iand 8. In the-construction as shown in .Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the contacts 40, 41, 42 and 43 are in the form of annular inclined segments and respectively have the there is no connection corresponding to the link 18 of Fig. 4 and 5 and 6. It will be known that .the circuit terminals 44 and 45 both project laterally from the carrier 2 so that they are arranged in the upper and lower right handed corners of the housing 1 as viewed in Fig. 7 while the other two circuit terminals 46, and 47 are at the left hand side in the lower and upper corners respectively. Both of these constructions are so arranged that the contacts, and circuit terminals of the operating mechanism can be inserted and removed as a unit when desired.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a pull switch, a housing, a carrier removably held therein, a contact carried by said carrier, a movable switch contact, a pull chain operated member for moving said movable switch contact and a circuit terminal member carried by said carrierand removable therewith and extending across from said carrier to the opposite edge of said housing.

' 2. In a pull switch, an insulating carrier, at spindle. carried thereby, two pairs of stationary switch contacts arranged around said spindle, circuit terminals connected to three of said switch contacts, two of said circuit terminals being arranged at one edge of said insulating member, the third circuit terminal being connected to one of the other switchcontacts and projecting laterally from said insulating member. .3. In a pull switch, an insulating housing, an insulating carrier movably fitting in one side of said housing, pull switch mechanism carried by said carrier and insertible and removable therewith, circuit terminals in three of the corners of said housing, two of said terminals being arranged at the same edge of said carrier and the other circuit terminal being connected across the inside of;one endof said housing. FREDERIC BARR.

NVit-nesse's:

- Roar. S. ALLYN,

E. BRADFORD; 

